Dating the Moschophoros

Archaeology > Greek
Art > History
Art > Sculpture

A discussion of the Moschophoros statue in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, comparing it with other statues in order to support the generally accepted date of its creation.

2,032 words () | 7 sources | MLA | 2009 New Zealand

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Moschophoros statue in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, which has been dated to around 560 BC by scholars. The writer compares the Moschophoros to a number of representative Kouroi and Korai, whose dates have been more or less determined, and considers how his eyes, ears, mouth, lips and torso compare with the artistic developments in the 2nd quarter of the 6th century BC, demonstrating that a date of around 560 BC is secure within 5-10 years. By also comparing the representation of clothing on the Moschophoros with the Kore form, this date is further reaffirmed. This paper contains figures.

From the Paper:

"The Moschophoros has suffered some damage over the years, most of which was likely caused by the Persian sacking of Athens in 479/80. Moschophoros' genitals are missing from the sculpture because a good share of the front side of his left leg from roughly the left hip down to the shinbone is gone. His right hand is completely broken off just above the wrist and his left hand is partially broken off. The calf's left hind leg is partly missing in the same breakage as his left hand's demise; the calf's right front leg swings around Moschophoros' neck and is partially lost in the breakage that is centred at the centre of the chest of Moschophoros."

Sample of Sources Used:

Pausanias, Guide to Greece 1: Central Greece. Translated by Peter Levi. Penguin, London (1971).
Boardman, John. Greek Sculpture: The Archaic Period. Thames and Hudson, London (1991).
Osbourne, Robin. Archaic and Classical Greek Art. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1998).
Pedley, John Griffiths. Greek Art and Archaeology, second edition. Prentice Hall, London (1998).
Richter, G.M.A. Kouroi, archaic Greek youths. Phaidon Press, London (1960).